Diascia plant named ‘Blushwpr’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named ‘Blushwpr’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; freely and continuous branching; and numerous light pink-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Diascia×hybrida cultivar Blushwpr.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant, botanically known as Diascia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Blushwpr.

The new Diascia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Guadalupe, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Diascias with numerous flowers with attractive coloration and good garden performance.

The new Diascia originated from a cross made by the Inventor during the spring of 1999 of a proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number 377-3, not patented, as the female, or seed parent, with a proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number 382-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Diascia was selected as a single plant from the resulting progeny by the Inventor in July, 1999, in Guadalupe, Calif. on the basis of its attractive flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings taken in Guadalupe, Calif. since the fall of 1999 has shown that the unique features of this new Diascia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Blushwpr have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Blushwpr’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Blushwpr’ as a new and distinct Diascia cultivar:

1. Upright plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Freely and continuous flowering habit.

4. Light pink-colored flowers.

Compared to plants of the female parent, the selection 377-3, plants of the new Diascia differ in flower color as plants of the selection 377-3 have light orange-colored flowers. Compared to plants of the male parent, the selection 382-4, plants of the new Diascia are more upright and differ in flower color as plants of the selection 382-4 have coral pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the cultivar Iceberg, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Guadalupe, Calif., plants of the new Diascia differed from plants of the cultivar Iceberg in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Diascia were more vigorous than plants of the cultivar Iceberg.

2. Plants of the new Diascia had darker green-colored leaves than plants of the cultivar Iceberg.

3. Flower color of plants of the new Diascia was light pink whereas flower color of plants of the cultivar Iceberg was pure white.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Diascia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of three typical flowering plants of ‘Blushwpr’ grown in a 20-cm container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical flowering stems, developing flowers, upper and lower surfaces of fully opened flowers, and the upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Blushwpr’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif., in an outdoor nursery under full sunlight conditions during the late winter and early spring with day temperatures averaging 24° C. and night temperatures averaging 12° C. Plants were grown for 16 weeks in 19-cm containers with three plants per container and were pinched one time. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Diascia×hybrida cultivar Blushwpr.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number 377-3, not patented.

Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number 382-4, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 7 days at 20° C.

Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 21 days at 20° C.

Root description.—Fine and fibrous; white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Form/growth habit.—Upright and compact plant habit. Freely branching with more than 30 lateral branches per plant. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

Plant height.—About 14 cm.

Plant diameter.—Single plant: About 12 cm. Three plants: About 24 cm.

Lateral branches.—Aspect: Upright. Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple. Quantity per lateral branch: About 10. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Ovate with cordate tendencies. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Slightly serrate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Young and mature foliage, upper surface: 137A. Young and mature foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface: 137B. Venation, lower surface: 147C. Petiole length: About 3 mm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm. Petiole color: 144B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Solitary axillary flowers; zygomorphic.

Five modified petals fused at base.—Two upper (banner) petals, two lateral petals and one larger lower lip petal. Flowers not persistent. Freely flowering; typically about 11 buds and flowers per lateral branch. Flowers face mostly outward.

Natural flowering season.—Plants typically flower from March through June in the Northern Hemisphere; flowering continuous during this period.

Flower longeviy on the plant.—About 3 to 4 days.

Fragrance.—Not detected.

Flower size.—Height: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.

Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm. Shape: Oval. Color: 157C.

Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five modified petals fused at base: two upper (banner) petals, two lateral petals and one larger lower lip petal. Base of banner petals with indented yellow eyespots; lower surfaces of lateral petals modified into nectar spurs; and lower lip petal convex forming horizontal insect landing platform. Length: Banner petals: About 4 mm. Lateral petals: About 5 mm. Lower lip petal: About 1 cm. Width: Banner petals: About 5 mm. Lateral petals: About 7 mm. Lower lip petal: About 1.5 cm. Lateral petal spur: Length: About 7 mm. Diameter, at petal attachment: About 2 mm. Shape, all petals: Roughly spatulate. Apex, all petals: Rounded. Margin, all petals: Entire. Texture, all petals: Smooth, velvety. Color, all petals: Upper surface, when opening: 36C. Lower surface, when opening: 155D. Upper surface, fully opened: 155D overlain with 56A; at base of petals, 56A; color does not fade with subsequent development. Lower surface, fully opened: 155D. Nectar spurs: 155A. Eyespots on banner petals: 4A.

Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals fused at base; star-shaped. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature and mature: Upper surface: 146B. Lower surface: 146A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: Less than 1 mm. Angle: About 45° from the stem. Strength: Moderately strong; slender. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: 23B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 23B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 144D. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 144D. Ovary color: 144C.

Seed/fruit.—Seed nor fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Diascia have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Diascia.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Diascia have been observed to tolerate temperatures from 0 to 32° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named ‘Blushwpr’, as illustrated and described. 